The Manifest Bliss of Bhakti Yoga
The Manifest Bliss of Bhakti Yoga That which is readily perceived by the senses, especially the sense of sight, becomes a gateway to the divine. In Sanskrit, this is termed vyakta , the manifest, tangible presence of the eternal. In every form of yoga, one must endeavor to taste this manifest bliss, a direct experience of the sacred woven into existence. Among these paths, bhakti yoga shines as the most manifest of all yogas, its vibrancy undeniable. Through the deity, the holy name ( nāma ), the sacred tulsi, the flowing Ganges, and other divine symbols, bhakti offers a vivid, sensory connection to the infinite. In this practice, upāsanā ānanda —the bliss of worship—arises naturally, derived from showing reverence to this manifest divinity. Here, matter and the divine intermingle seamlessly, a union known as adhiṣṭhāna , where the mundane is infused with the transcendent. This reverence extends even among humans—to the guru, elders, and all beings—as embodiments of grace. A bhak...